Centralized selection of peers as media data sources in a dispersed peer network

Abstract

A hierarchical content distribution system includes a seeding server, a plurality of geographically distributed content platforms, and a distribution controller, all interconnected by a communications network. The seeding server initially receives content files for distribution to various content platforms that provide for the persistent storage of the content files. Each content platform includes a content file server responsive on-demand to requests for the transfer of content files. The distribution controller autonomously monitors the transfers of content files and selectively issues transfer directives to the content platforms to modify the distribution of content files among the content platforms. The content file servers respond to received transfer directives by issuing requests for the transfer of the directive identified content files, thereby conforming the specific distribution of content files to an optimal distribution pattern as determined by the distribution controller based on usage patterns.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Divisional Application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 349,622, filed Jan. 23, 2003; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 132,964, filed Apr. 26, 2002, now abandoned; all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is generally related to network based content delivery systems and, in particular, to a streaming media content delivery system supporting multiple, concurrent, peer-based sources of multimedia content accessible subject to central mediation.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]The desire for high-quality, on-demand delivery of streaming multimedia and other rich digital content is a principal driving force in the continued development of the broadband Internet infrastructure. Indeed, with the growth of broadband connections, the number, scale, and divers...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an efficient peer-to-peer content distribution network system architecture capable of delivering high quality multimedia data streams to end-users. The system includes a seeding server, geographically distributed content platforms, and a distribution controller, all interconnected by a communications network. The system employs a hierarchical content distribution system with a centralized mediation of segmented file transfers. The system can perform predictive seeding and adaptive modification of segment distribution in response to changing content file demands. The system also includes a multi-tiered hierarchy of content segment caches for reliable access to content segments and persistent monitoring of the available peers in the network. The system ensures the integrity of content file segments throughout the operations of the file segment transport, cache storage, and streaming file assembly and playback.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the growth in interest and use, conventional content streaming systems have not been cost effective or particularly reliable in delivering high-quality content.

Streaming media content, including in particular high-quality audio and video, is naturally bandwidth intensive and fundamentally sensitive to varying delivery latencies.

Whether due to transient transport overloads, functional interruptions in the network infrastructure, or bandwidth limitations of a content source site, the result is uniformly perceived by a recipient as a reduction in the quality of service of the content source site.

Because of the open and shared nature of the Internet, few practical mechanisms can ensure the uninterrupted delivery of broadband content, typically consisting of multi-megabyte files, over the entire delivery path from a source site to a recipient.

Implementing a useful number of adequately scaled, geographically distributed edge caches requires a large capital infrastructure investment.

Unfortunately, conventional content delivery networks, including fully scaled content server systems and extensive edge cache networks, have not proven adequate to broadly ensure a high quality of service to all potential users of the systems.

Transient bandwidth bottlenecks can certainly occur anywhere beyond the scope of a conventional content delivery network.

Bottlenecks and delivery latencies can occur even with the network, particularly whenever the stream data is not immediately available in a locally accessible edge cache.

Such bottlenecks in the Internet infrastructure are unfortunately both common and unpredictable.

Transient bandwidth bottlenecks can also occur in within the content server system itself.

The rate of content access requests is highly variable with unpredictable demand peaks.

Whether due to network or server bottlenecks, the resulting latencies and gas in the delivery of stream data packets ultimately to the recipient are uniformly seen as source-site quality of service failures.

Expanding the conventional content distribution networks to prevent significant transient bandwidth bottlenecks is generally recognized as not practical.

Due to the size and diversity of the Internet and the growing demands for streaming content delivery, significantly expanding the edge cache network coverage and the capacity of all included edge caches and streaming media source sites is simply not cost-effective.

Furthermore, the costs associated with high-bandwidth Internet access and server throughput grow proportional to peak access demands, which is disproportionately greater than the growth of average access demands.

This additional bandwidth, however, is unused typically in excess of 90 percent of the time.

The capital and operating cost of this additional bandwidth is therefore not directly recoverable.

Consequently, content sites and the content delivery network operators have been severely limited in being able to consistently and profitably deliver streaming media content with a high quality of service.

Images